LEH, MANALI

Camping Heaven-Side

Travelling from Manali, its not just Sarchu that gives you a high. Bara Lachla Pass & Pangong Tso too offer out-of-the-world experiences

Harsimran Julka

IF YOU are one of those who have always wanted an extreme holiday in the toughest mountain terrain, try Sarchu, a small district in Himachal Pradesh connected to Ladakh on the Manali-Leh route. Sarchu is unique in a sense that it just has an endless road surrounded with cold desert mountains. The absence of trees or habitation in the area makes oxygen levels drop to a bare minimum . For the adventurous, its a high in itself, as it tests the body and the lung power.
The area is completely snow-covered in winters, so much so that the tarmac laid for carrying heavy artillery up to Kashmir may not be visible. Moreover, the sub zero temperature in most parts of the year, may test your bodys resistance to the cold to the extreme.
It is advisable to carry an oxygen cylinder, if you are really not sure of your lung capacity. Diamox (acetazolamide) can speed up the process of acclimatisation, if you are ascending to almost 17,000 ft in the Himalayas from the northern plains (Delhi or Manali), in a single day.
Diamox forces kidneys to excrete bicarbonate . This makes the blood more acidic, which increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. Water bottles are a necessity at such heights. The lack of oxygen in the air, makes the body suck O2 from the blood. Lack of water, may lead to cyanosis (deoxygneation of blood leading to blue coloured skin). Its advised to stockpile a dozen bottles, if you are camping for the night, alone.
Sarchu, has become a favourite with adventure tourists, despite the harsh conditions. There are no mobile towers and no electric poles. So, the three or four camps, which operate in the area, run on diesel power.
Night camps are available at anywhere upwards of Rs 1200 a night. The camps take care of the food and other necessities. There are no petrol pumps in the region. The last petrol pump is in Keylong. So, its advisable to take your own share of gasoline, especially if you are unsure of the mileage your car or bike provides. The only petrol pump you get after Keylong, is after 400 km, in Leh. Hard cash is a must as there are no ATMs. Sarchu, is not the only place which will give you a high, if travelling from Manali. Bara Lachla Pass, which is snow clad in winters, overlooking a frozen Suraj Tal lake, might give the toughest of people jitters when driving on the slippery tarmac. A snow storm makes many an army vehicle topple. Bara Lachla pass is a place to camp only if you have the best protective gear feather coated sleeping bags and wind-proof sleeping tents, and ample woollens to cover yourself against the chilly wind.
Another great place to camp, if youre going towards Leh, is at Pangong Tso (Tso means lake in Ladakhi). The 130-square kilometre wide lake looks crystal blue in the morning. The lake changes colour from blue to purple to light green to dark blue as the sun passes over it. The water is salty sweet, and it is one of the highest salt water lakes in the world. About 70% of it lies in China, only 30% in India.
Make sure to take your provisions along, if you are camping at Pangong Tso as the only inhabitants there are migratory birds. At night, the lake offers a out-of-thisworld view. The clear dark blue sky with stars reflecting in the lake, surrounding snow capped mountains at 21,000 ft offers a camping experience which very few places in the world can offer. Its camping heaven-side !

NAVI GATO R



BY AIR:

Nearest airport is at Leh

BY RAIL:

The nearest railway station is in Kalka.

BY ROAD:

There are regular bus & Tata Sumo services to Leh from Kalka

PACKAGES:

Rs 5,500 per night at The Grand Dragon